Halogen-Free, UV-Curable High Refractive Index Materials for Light Management

Abstract

High refractive index (RI) materials, especially radiation curable high RI materials, have been used for light management in a wide variety of optical, photovoltaic, photonic and electronic applications. Recently, there have been fast growing demands for new materials with even higher RI, and better performance while also being halogen-free due to increasing environmental concerns. Achieving equivalent RI without the use of halogenated materials is a big challenge. Cytec has developed a series of halogen-free, UV-curable high refractive index materials including inorganic-organic hybrid Nanocomposite containing aromatic urethane (meth) acrylate oligomers. These materials have refractive indices in the range of nD20 = 1.58 – 1.65 (liquid) and good optical transparence, making them ideal for display and photovoltaic applications.